Control apparatus for starting,stopping,and priming a spinning machine



Nov. 24, 1970 J. STERBA ETAL 3,541,774

CONTROL APPARATUS FOR STARTING, STOPPING, ANDv PRIMING A SPINNING MACHINE Filed April 7, 1969 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR 37w Ire/m y TILIU VARGA Nov. 24,1970

J. STERBA E'TAL CONTROL APPARATUS FOR STARTING, STOPPING, AND

Filed April '2, 1969 PRIMING A SPINNING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVEN'II'OR To 12:84- Y Tam V4264 4w, f-Tk/l.

ORNEY 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 J. STERBA ETAL PRIMING A SPINNING MACHINE CONTROL APPARATUS FOR STARTING, STOPPING, AND

Nov. 24, 1970 Filed A ril: 7, 1969 INVENTOR I40 5721M BY Tm/m V4864 mam-M1,

ATTORNEY UnitedStates "Patent Oflice 3,541,774 Patented Nov. 24, 1970 3,541,774 CONTROL APPARATUS FOR STARTING, STOP- PING, AND PRIMING A SPINNING MACHINE Jan Sterba and Julius Varga, Usti nad Orlici, Czechoslovakia, assignors to Elitex Zavody Textilniho Strojirenstiv Generalni Reditelstvi, Liberec, Czechoslovakia Filed Apr. 7, 1969, Ser. No. 815,272 Claims priority, application Czechoslovakia, Apr. 8, 1968, 2,593/68 Int. Cl. D01h 13/14 US. Cl. 5778 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An electric control apparatus includes a rotary arm for successively operating control switches by which devices cooperating with a spinning chamber are started in a predetermined sequence required for priming, and then placed in a condition for normal spinning operations. By relative adjustment of the control switches along the path of the control arm, the timing of the operations of the devices can be determined.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to control apparatus for starting and stopping a break spinning machine having a plurality of spinning units which can be simultaneously primed. Each spinning unit has a feeding device for supplying fibers to a rotary spinning chamber, a withdrawal device which normally withdraws the spun yarn, but may be reversed for priming the spinning chamber, and a winding up device.

An apparatus is known for this purpose in which collective priming is accomplished when the machine is started. The control apparatus includes a control circuit with four pushbutton switches, two of which serve for starting and shutting 01f the electric drive motor, While the other two pushbutton switches control relays effecing opeartion of a brake and a clutch on the shaft of the withdrawal rollers. In the apparatus of the prior art, time relays are used for producing the required time intervals between the sequential starts of the several devices of the spinning machine. A disadvantage of the use of time relays is that the time periods between actuations of devices depend upon the voltage of the power supply, on the ambient temperature, and other factors influencing the desired accurate timing achieved by the time relays. Permissible variations of the time values of the relay occurring due to temperature and voltage changes are -10%.

However, since a plurality of time relays have to be used in the control circuit of the prior art, the inaccuracies of several time relays are added so that timing errors up to 30% occur. At high speed of the machine operation, faulty priming of the spinning chamber during the starting of the machine is caused. Furthermore, since it is necessary to change the time values of the time relays when the count of the yarn is to be changed, every change of the yarn count requires a difficult adjustment of the time relays, and checking by means of priming tests.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is one object of the present invention to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art, and to provide control apparatus for a spinning machine by which accurate priming is obtained by a simple apparatus.

Another object of the invention is to control the timing of operations of devices of a spinning machine by mechanical means rather than by time relays.

The ultimate object of the invention is to obtain a very reliable priming and normal operation of a spinning machine.

With these objects in view, the present invention relates to a control apparatus for a spinning machine including at least one spinning unit having a plurality of devices, such as a feeding device, a withdrawal device for withdrawing yarn from the spinning chamber, and a brake device for braking wind up means and the withdrawal device.

An embodiment of the invention comprises a plurality of first electrically operated means such as electromagnetic clutches, for actuating the several devices, respectively; a control member movable along a path; second electrically operated means, such as an electromagnetic clutch connected with a drive motor for moving the control member along the path for successively actuating a plurality of control switches respectively associated with the several devices; support means for supporting the control switches for adjustment to different relative positions; manual switch means, such as a start switch, a stop switch and a priming switch; and control circuit means connecting the manual switch means, the control switches, and the first and second electrically operated means.

Upon actuation of the manual switch means, the clutch of the control member is engaged and drives the same so that the control switches are sequentially actuated, and efifect energization of the clutches by which the devices of the spinning unit are connected with the drive motor. In this manner, the devices are started in a predetermined sequence and at predetermined selected time intervals which depend on the adjusted relative positions of the control switches along the path of the control memher.

In the preferred embodiment, the control switches include a stop switch, normally engaged by the control arm when the machine is at rest, a feed switch, a withdrawal switch, and a brake switch arranged in a circle on circular guide means which permit a circumferential relative adjustment of the control switches. In order to determine the adjusted positions of the control switches, a circular scale is provided on the supporting plate of the control switches.

Preferably, each control switch operates relay means by which the clutches are controlled.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a schematic and partly diagrammatic view illustrating a spinning unit provided with a control apparatus according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a front view illustrating a rotary control arm cooperating with a plurality of control switches; and

FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram illustrating the control circuit of the control apparatus.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The spinning machine to which the present invention is applied, comprises twenty to ninety identical spinning units, driven and controlled from a central control station. FIG. 1 represents one spinning unit together with the control station, and it will be understood that additional spinning units can be operated from the same control station.

The control station includes a start switch 51, a stop switch 52, and a priming switch 53 for operating a control circuit shown in FIG. 3, partly represented by the box 50 in FIG. 1.

Each spinning unit comprises a sliver bobbin 8 from which a sliver 9 is withdrawn by a pair of feed rollers 3 which feed the sliver into separating means 2 by which fibers are separated from the sliver 9 and supplied to a rotary spinning chamber 1 which spins a yarn 6 which is withdrawn from spinning chamber 1 by a pair of withdrawal rollers 4 whereupon the yarn is wound up in the form of a package 7 on a take-up reel which is rotated together with package 7 by a winding roller of known construction effecting the crosswise laying of the yarn in package 7.

The feed rollers 3 are driven from a feed shaft 10 connected by an electromagnetic clutch 11 with a first transmission gear 12 which meshes with a second transmission gear meshing with a third transmission gear 21. Transmission gear 21 is connected by shaft 19 with a gear 27 meshing with the gear 28 which meshes with a gear 29 connected with a pair of bevel gears 30, 31 driven by a main motor 32. When motor 32 rotates the gears 12, 15, 21, 27, 28, 29, feed shaft 10 is driven as long as clutch 11 is engaged.

The withdrawal rollers 4 are driven by a withdrawal shaft 13 carrying gears 25 and 16 and being connected by an electromagnetic clutch 14 with gear 15. Withdrawal rollers 4 are driven at a speed and in a direction determined by gear 15 as long as clutch 14 is engaged.

Gear 16 meshes with a gear 17 meshing with a gear 18 secured to a reversing shaft 19 which is connected by an electromagnetic clutch 20 to the gear 21. Withdrawal shaft 13 can be rotated in two opposite directions determined by the engagement and disengagement of clutches 14 and 20, so that, when clutch 14 is disengaged and clutch 20 engaged, the direction of rotation of the withdrawal rollers is reversed for feeding the yarn 6 back into the spinning chamber, as required for priming operations.

Winding roller 5 is fixed to a winding shaft 22 connected by gears 23, 24, 25 with withdrawal shaft 13 so that withdrawal rollers 4 and winding roller 5 always rotate in the same sense, and yarn is let off package 7 when the withdrawal rollers 4 are reversed and transport the yarn 6 into the spinning chamber.

An electromagnetically operated brake 26 has a first part secured to winding shaft 22 and a second part secured to a fixed support so that the winding roller 5 can be braked.

During rotation of winding roller 5, it engages package 7 and rotates the same while traversing yarn 6 across the package 7.

Main motor 32 not only supplies the power for rotating the feed rollers 3, withdrawal roller 4 and winding roller 5 of all spinning units of the spinning machine, but also drives a pulley 33 connected by a belt 34 to all rotary spinning chambers 1 of the several units comprised by the spinning machine, only one spinning unit being shown in FIG. 1 for the sake of simplicity and clarity.

The separating means 2 are not driven from main motor 32, but from an auxiliary electric motor 35 by means of a pulley and belt transmission 36.

In accordance with the present invention, a control shaft is driven from the main motor 32 through transmission means 27 to 31, and 37 to 39. Control shaft 40 has two portions connected by an electromagnetic control clutch 41. One portion of shaft 40 is driven by gear 39, and the other portion carries a fixed control arm 42 which rotates when electromagnetic control clutch 41 is engaged due to a pulse produced by control circuit means 50. The energization of the other clutches 11, 14, 20, and of brake 26, is also controlled by the control circuit means 50, as diagrammatically indicated in FIG. 1.

The four switches 45, 46, 47 and 48 are mounted on a circular plate 44, as best seen in FIG. 2. Plate 44 has circular slots 450 into which legs of the switches project so that each switch is circumferentially adjustable independently of the other switches, and can be fixed in an adjusted position to plate 44. A circular numerical scale 49 is provided with indicia for indicating the circumferential positions of switches to 48. Each switch has a resilient contact projecting into the circular path of movement of the end portion of control arm 42.

The connection of the control switches 45 to 48 with the other electrical parts of the apparatus is effected by means of a control circuit shown in FIG. 3.

The pushbutton start switch 51 is connected with a rectifier 54 and controls a main switching means 55 including relay means by which main motor 32 is energized. FIG. 3 illustrates the electrical connections in a simplified manner, and it is assumed that a second terminal of each electric device is connected to ground. Switching means 55 also energizes a time relay 56 which has a contact 561 controlling an indicator lamp 57. A stop relay 58, having two relay contacts 581 and 582, whose function will be explained hereinafter, is also energized by switching means 55.

The pushbutton priming switch 53 is connected with switching means 59 by which the auxiliary motor 35 is controlled. Switching means 59 includes a relay having a contact 591 controlling a bimetal time relay 60 having a contact 601 connected in series with contact 581. Contact 601 energizes the main relay 61 which has three contacts 611, 612 and 613.

The first contact 611 actuates either the electromagnetic brake 26 of the winding shaft 22, or the electromagnetic clutch 20 for reversing withdrawal shaft 13, and is consequently shiftable between two positions respectively connected with brake 26 and clutch 20. The second contact 612 of main relay 61 is connected with clutch 41 which controls the turning of control arm 42, but stop switch 45 is connected between contact 612 and clutch 41 in series with the same between the positive and negative conductors receiving direct current from rectifier 54.

Control arm 42 controls the stop switch 45, the feed switch 46, the withdrawal switch 47, and the brake switch 48 during each revolution thereof, as explained above. The stop switch 45 determines the initial starting operation. The feed switch 46 controls the relay 62 which has a contact 621 for engaging clutch 11 of feed shaft 10 for supplying sliver 9 to the separating means 2. Another contact 622 of relay 62 shunts feed switch 46.

Withdrawal switch 47 controls a relay 63 which has three contacts 631, 632, and 633. Contact 631 has a first position'for actuating clutch 14, and a second position for energizing reversing clutch 20 if contact 611 is in the respective position, or for actuating brake 26 when contact 611 is in the illustrated position. The second contact 632 of relay 63 controls clutch 41 for stopping control arm 42. Contact 613 of relay 61 is connected in series with contact 632. The third contact 633 of relay 63 shunts withdrawal switch 47.

Brake switch 48 is connected in series with withdrawal switch 47 and also controls withdrawal relay 63 which operates contact 631 to effect energization and actuation of brake 26.

The pushbutton stop switch 52 cuts off main motor 32 and auxiliary motor 35, and also the stop relay 58 whose first contact 581 controls feed relay 62 via contact 622 of the same, and at the same time also controls the main relay 61. The other contact 582 disconnects rectifier 54 from a capacitor 65. Capacitor 65 is connected into the circuit so as to supply reversing clutch 20 and brake 26 with stored electric energy. In a similar manner, a capacitor 66 is connected between the terminals of the rectifier 54 for supplying stored energy to those electric parts which have to continue to operate for a short time when the machine is being stopped, as will be explained hereinafter.

OPERATION To start the machine, start switch 51 is closed, so that main motor 32 is energized by switching means 55 together with time relay 56 which, after motor 32 has reached its full speed, operates with a certain delay contact 561 to light signal lamp 57. Start switch 51 also energizes stop relay 58 which closes contact 581 and 582 to prepare the circuit for operation of the main relay 61 and of the capacitor 65.

Motor 32 rotates the spinning chamber 1 by pulley 33 and belt 34, and also drives transmission gears 31, 30, 29, 27, 37, 38, 39, 21, and 12, as shown in FIG. 1. In the initial position, clutches 11, 14 and are disengaged so that withdrawal shaft 13 and feed shaft 10 are at rest. Winding shaft 22 is also at rest and held by the brake 26 since contacts 611, 631, 583 connect brake 26 with rectifier 54, while the capacitor 65 is being charged.

As soon as signal lamp 57 indicates that the circuit is ready, priming switch 53 is closed to obtain a collective priming of all spinning chambers 1 of the machine. Upon closing of priming switch 53, switching means 59 effects energization of auxiliary motor which drives the separating means 2. Contact 591 of a relay of switching means 59 energizes the bimetal time relay 60 whose contact 61 connects main relay 61 to rectifier 54 after a certain delay, which is required by motor 35 to reach full speed.

When main relay 61 is energized by contact 601, its first contact 611 disconnects brake 26 and connects reversing clutch 20 so that the latter rotates reversing shaft 19 with gears 18, 17 and 16 whereby withdrawal shaft 13 rotates in a reverse direction as compared with its normal direction of rotation for withdrawing the yarn from spinning chamber 1. Consequently, withdrawal rollers 4 start to return yarn 6 into the respective spinning chamber 1. The other contact 612 of relay 61 is opened so that the circuit of clutch 41 is interrupted so that a spring of clutch 41 engages the same and connects control arm 42 with the rotating shaft so that control arm 42 moves out of its initial position and away from stop switch 44 to a position engaging feed switch 46.

The normally open feed switch 46 is closed so that feed relay 62 is energized and operates contact 621 so that clutch 11 is engaged, and feed shaft 10 rotates feed rollers 3 for feeding sliver 9 to the separating means 2 which includes a combing roller for combing out the fibers of the sliver and for conveying the same into the spinning chamber 1 for being spun into a yarn.

However, control arm 42 continues its turning movement and engages withdrawal switch 47 which is closed so that relay 63 is energized and disengages reversing clutch 20 by means of contact 631, while clutch 14 is engaged and effects rotation of the withdrawal rollers 4 in the normal direction of rotation for withdrawing the yarn from spinning chamber 1. At the same time, the second contact 632 of relay 63 closes the circuit of control clutch 41 so that the same is disengaged and further movement of control arm 42 is interrupted. The third contact 633 of relay 63 shunts withdrawal switch 47 so that withdrawal relay 63 remains energized and the machine continues to run.

When the machine is to to be stopped, stop switch 52 is depressed, and the main switching means 55 stops, by means of relay contacts, the two electric motors 32 and 35. At the same time, stop relay 58 is de-energized and opens contact 581 which de-energizes main relay 61, and also feed relay 62 via contact 622. Contact 621 of relay 62 disengages feed clutch 11 so that the feeding of sliver 9 stops. Contact 611 of main relay 61 prepares the circuit of brake 26. The second contact 612 of relay 61 interrupts the circuit of the clutch 41 so that the same closes due to spring action, and control arm 42 starts to rotate away from withdrawal switch 47 and engages brake switch 48. By operation of brake switch 48, relay 63 is de-energized so that its contact 631 is shifted and eifects disengagement of withdrawal clutch 14. Since contact 611 is already prepared, electromagnetic brake 26 engages and stops withdrawal rollers 4 and winding roller 5.

Due to inertia, control arm 42 continues its turning movement toward its initial position engaging stop switch 45 Where, due to the closing of stop switch 45, the control clutch 41 is energized by the energy stored in ca pacitor 66 so that control clutch 41 is disengaged against theaction of its spring and control arm 42 is not further turned. The stopped machine can be restarted by means of start switch 51, and collectively reprimed by operation of priming switch 53.

If the source of alternating current supplying rectifier 54 is interrupted for any reason, the machine automatically stops without requiring actuation of the stop switch 52. If the source of current fails, and the voltage drops, stop relay 58 is released and its contact 581 accomplishes the stopping of the spinning machine in the sequence explained above, while the circuit parts requiring electric energy are supplied with the same by the discharging capacitors 65 and 66.

It is an important feature of the present invention that the control of the collective priming is effected by four mechanically operated switches, the spacing betweeh which determines certain time periods required for a proper priming operation. Thus, the distance between stop switch 45 and withdrawal switch 47 determines the time period required for returning the yarn into the spining chamber 1. The distance between the withdrawal switch 47 and the brake switch 48 determines the time period required for using up the fibers remaining in the spinning chamber 1, and also accomplishes stopping of the yarn withdrawal in such a manner that the end of the yarn remains in the discharge tube of the spinning chamber 1. The circumferential distances between the switches 45, 47 and 48 can be easily adjusted by sliding the respective switches along the guide slots 450 of support plate 45, whereupon the switches are clamped to the support plate 45 in the newly adjusted positions which are selected so that the time between each switch actuation by control arm 42 is sufiicient for carrying out the operational steps required during the respective time period, as explained above.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of control apparatus for spinning machines differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a control apparatus for starting, stopping, and priming a break-spinning machine, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims.

1. Control apparatus for a spinning machine including at least one spinning unit having a plurality of devices, comprising a plurality of first electrically operated means for actuating said devices, respectively; a control member movable along a path; second electrically operated means for moving said control member along said path; a plurality of control switches associated with said devices, respectively, and located along said path for successive actuation by said control member; support means for supporting said control switches for adjustment to different relative positions along said path; manual switch means; and control circuit means connecting said manual switch means, said control switches, and said first and second electrically operated means so that upon actuation of said manual switch means, said second electrically operated means drives said control member along said path for sequential actuation of said control switches which respectively effect energization of said first electrically operated means and operations of said devices in a predetermined sequence and at time intervals depending on the adjusted relative positions of said control switches.

2. Control apparatus as claimed in claim 1 including means supporting said control member for rotation about an axis along a circular path; and wherein said control switches are circumferentially spaced along said path.

3. Control apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said support means includes a supporting plate having guide means along said path; and wherein said control switches are adjustable along said guide means.

4. Control apparatus as claimed in claim 1 including means supporting said control member for rotation about an axis along a circular path; wherein said supporting means includes circular guide means extending along said path for guiding said control switches for adjusting movement along said path, and a circular scale for indicating adjusted positions of said control switches.

5. Control apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said spinning unit includes a spinning chamber; drive motor means for rotating said spinning chamber; wherein said devices include a feeding device, a withdrawal device, and a braking device cooperating with said spinning chamber; wherein said control switches include a feeding switch, a withdrawal switch, a brake switch, and a stop switch for effecting de-energizing of said drive motor means; and wherein said first electrically operated means include a feeding clutch, a withdrawal clutch, and means for operating said braking device controlled by said feeding switch, said withdrawing switch and said brake switch, respectively, so that said clutches connect the respective associated devices with said drive motor means in a predetermined sequence at adjustable time intervals.

6. Control apparatus as claimed in claim 5 comprising reversing means for reversing said withdrawal device and including a reversing clutch connected with said control circuit; and wherein said manual switch means include a start switch for starting said drive motor means, a stop switch for stopping said drive motor means, and a priming switch; wherein said second electrically operated means includes a control clutch connecting said control member with said drive motor means, and wherein said control circuit includes means for effecting engagement of said control clutch and of said reversing clutch, and inactivation of said withdrawal clutch upon operation of said priming switch whereby said withdrawal device is reversed for supplying yarn to said spinning chamber during priming of the same.

7. Control apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein said printing unit includes winding means connected with said withdrawal device for rotation, and being reversed with the same.

8. Control apparatus as claimed in claim 5 comprising means for supporting said control member for rotation about an axis along a circular path; and wherein said stop switch, said feeding switch, said withdrawal switch, and said brake switch are mounted on said support means for adjusting movement along said circular path.

9. Control apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein said support means include a supporting plate having guide slots along said circular path; and wherein said control switches are guided in said guide slots for adjusting movement along said path.

10. Control apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein said guide slots include parallel slots concentric with said axis; and a circular scale on said support plate be tween said parallel slots.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,210,923 10/1965 Schlosser 5758.95 3,354,626 11/1967 Cizek et a]. 57-78 3,462,936 8/1969 Boucek et a1 57-80 IOHN PETRAKES, Primary Examiner U.S. C1.X.R. 

